The New Orleans Saints are about to add a big name to their quarterback room, according to a Yahoo Sports report Sunday.
Sean Payton and the Saints were finalizing a one-year contract with free-agent Jameis Winston, who was let go by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following a 2019 season that saw him throw 30 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions.
As for his role, the sources told Yahoo Sports that Winston’s signing won’t guarantee him the backup job behind starter Drew Brees. Instead, the best-case scenario for Winston may ultimately be competing for the No. 2 quarterback spot with Taysom Hill, who the Saints retained this offseason via a first-round tender offer, suggesting he will have an opportunity to be the heir apparent to Brees as soon as 2021. New Orleans also added a quarterback in the seventh round of the draft on Saturday, selecting Mississippi State’s athletic signal-caller Tommy Stevens.
The Saints are in the market for some quarterback depth because Teddy Bridgewater, who filled in brilliantly when Drew Brees was injured last season, moved on to another NFC South team via free agency.
Sources tell Yahoo Sports the #Saints are finalizing a 1-year deal with free agent QB Jameis Winston. New Orleans hopes to continue maximizing Taysom Hill's versatility on gameday while mitigating some risk in exposing Drew Brees' backup to injury.
Story: https://t.co/srblaQWfhI pic.twitter.com/D2jNWL2446
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) April 26, 2020
Former Bucs’ Jameis Winston and the Saints have been discussing a deal that @CharlesRobinson reports is being finalized. Winston and the Saints now looks close to being a reality.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2020
Could soon be teammates…. pic.twitter.com/TBcAtSazZp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2020
By doing a 1-year deal with the Saints, Jameis Winston would get to learn and be around Sean Payton, Drew Brees and others. He would fill the role that Teddy Bridgewater did in last season before he left for Carolina. With no other staring jobs, it would be an ideal landing spot.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 26, 2020
Winston turned 26 in January. He was the Heisman Trophy winner in 2013 at Florida State and the No. 1 overall pick by the Bucs in 2015. He was 28-42 as the starter in Tampa Bay. Winston threw for 5,109 of his career 19,737 yards in 2019. However, he became the first QB to throw 30 TD passes and 30 interceptions. He has thrown 121 TD passes against 88 picks as a Buc.
The signing takes place after New Orleans traded back into the final day of the NFL Draft Saturday to select Stevens, who began his college career at Penn State and transferred to Mississippi State. He threw for 1,155 yards with 11 TD tosses and five picks for the Bulldogs.